Refrigerating-machine



W. C. RADDANT.

REFRIGERATING MACHINE.

APPLICATlON FILED APR. 4, [918.

1,890,161.. Pmmedse m, 1921..

7 1 76. Ema W.

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WALTER C. RADDANT, 0F PITTSBURGH, JP MESH E ASSIGNMENTS, T0 DOMESTIC R SYLVANIA.

ENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, ."BY DIRECT AND EFRIGERATING (10., OF CARAOJPOLIS, PENN- REFRIGJERAT ING-MACHINE;

7 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALTER C. RADDAN'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Refrigerating-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in refrigerating systems, and has for one of its objects to provide a refrigerating apparatus constructed to permit its instalment in dwellings, stores, and other buildings requiring small and compact refrigerating apparatus and systems; the improved apparatus serving as a means for preserving food stuffs or other perishable products, and requiring but little attention when in operation, thus rendering the same convenient and economical.

Another'object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with a novel form of automatic controlling means, whereby the refrigerating medium employed in the system will be caused to circulate therethrough at predetermined anduniformly recurring intervals, thus maintaining the temperature of the compartment containing the refrigerating means at the requisite low tempera- I ture continuously.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a view of the improved apparatus complete, partly in section and partly diagrammatic.

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail enlarged of the crossover element of the dial of the gage.

In the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention, like reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

The character 1 refers to a portion of a refrigerator of the usual construction, for instance devices of this character employed in dwellings, stores, or like places, and which has arranged, preferably in the upper portion thereof, a sheet metal tank indicated at 2 and containing a solution of calcium chlo- Specification of Letters Patent. 'Applieation filed April 4,

Patented Sept. 6, 1921i. 1918. serial No. 226,620.

ridin which a refrigerating coil of piping- 3 is arranged, said coil being connected at its end respectively with a delivery pipe 4 and a return pipe 1. It will be understood that the specific form of the refrigerating devices above described may be varied as conditions may dictate.

Arranged at a point distinct from the refrigerator device as, for instance, in the cellar or basement of the building in which the refrigerating apparatus is employed, is a boiler device 6 having hollow! heads or drums 7 and 7' at its opposite extremities, and with which the opposite ends of a coil of piping '8 communicate. The outer periphery of the coil, it will be noted, is arranged'adjacent the inner surface of the boiler. A receptable 9 is arranged in the lower drum 7 and into which the discharge end 8 of thecoil 8 leads. A line leads from the respectacle 9 and is adapted to be connected with a sewer or like waste receptacle.

A container or tank 11 is arranged adjacent to the boiler 6 and is provided with a water inlet 12 and an outlet 13. The tank is provided with a condensing coil, indicated at 14:, and which coil has one of its ends 14: extended to communicate with a suitable form of separator 15 connected to and communicating with the interior of boiler 6, while the other end of the coil is directed downwardly as at 16 and communicates with a suitable form of storage tank 17. The separator 15 is arranged to separate watery and impure vapor from the gas, thus insuring the passage of ammonia only to the condenser.

The circulating pipes 4 and 4. for the cooling medium hereinbefore designated, are.

the.

conduit 19 leads, and is provided with "a I suitable forml of controlling valve 21. A relatively small branch pipe 20 is tapped into the supply pipe 19 at a point 'beyond the control valve 21, and leads into the lower drum 7 and terminates in a suitable pilot burner 22 above the main burner 18,

. near its upper portion,

is carried over the contact 25 and ing lever 37 of the valve 38.

whereby the main burner may be ignited when the valve 21 is opened.

A branch pipe 10 is connected into the overflow 13 of the tank 11 and leads into the upper drum 7 of the boiler, and is provided with a controlling valve 42. The pipe 4 leading from the coil' 3 is connected. into thebody of the boiler-6' at its lower portion and is provided with a check valve 44 opening awa from the shell 6. A check valve 43 opening toward the coil 14 is likewise connected into the branch 14 of the coil '14, and a controlling valve 38 is connected into the pipe 4 as shown. Leading from the boiler- 6, preferably is a conduit 23 which communicates with a pressure gage indicated at 24. The pressure gage dial is formed with an annular face of insulating material in which contacts 25--26-'27 are located.- The pointer or finger of the gage is indicated at 2'4 and travels over the various contacts under the influence of the pressure caused bly the fluid passing through the conduit 23. ocated over the contact 25 is a passover device 25', illustrated more particularly in Fig. 2, so that the pointer 24 engages the contact 25 whenmoving in one direction, or in clocklike order, and prevented from engagin therewith by the passover 25' when moving in the opposite direction, the object to be hereafter explained.

Electromagnets28 and 29, preferably of solenoid form, are arranged in suitable p0- sitions'relatively to the various valves 21, 42, and 38. Plates 31 and 32 are pivoted at 3333 intermediate their ends and in vertical alinement with the armatures 28 and 29' of the magnets. The plates 31 and 32 are provided respectively with longitudinally directed slots, enlarged at the ends,- and the armatures 28 and 29' of the magnets are provided respectively with links 30 and 30 pivoted at their upper ends to the armatures of the magnets and provided at their lower ends with lateral pins slidable respectively in the slots of the members -31---32. A lever arm 35 is pivoted near one end at 35' and connected at its shorter end to theplate 31 by a link 34, and connected at its longer end by a link 36 to the operat- Pivoted at 39 and 39. are levers 39 and 39 the levers being connected at their longer ends with the ends of the plate 33 by links 39 and 39. The levers 39 and 39 are coupled at their shorter ends by-links 40 and 41 respectively to the valves 42 and 21. A suitable source of electric energy, for instance a battery indicated at 47, is employed to actuate the 2 plates 31--32 through the influence of the magnets 28-29. The conductors from the poles of themagnets are indicated at 45 and coact with a switch 46 to control the cur- 25 and 26 are connected by conductors 51' and 51 with the magnet 29, while the contact 27 is connected by a conductor 52 to the opposite end of the magnet 28.

' The contact 25 is arranged at the zero point of the pressure gage 24 while the con tact 26 is arranged adjacent to graduations of the pressure gage dial to indicate a relatively high pressure, for instance 125 pounds on the scale and the contact 27 is located in a position indicating low pressure, or about 20 vacuum, or 20 inches of mercury.

Initially the link 30 will be located with the pin at its lower end in the lower end of the slot of the member 31, and the link 30 at the lower end of the slot in the member 32, the right hand end of the member 31 and, the left hand end of the member 32 being initially at their lowest points, as shown in Fig. 1.

When thus arranged the valves 38 and 21 will be closed and the valve 42 open.

In preparing theapparatus for'operation, the tank 2 is filled with a calcium chlorid solution, and the boiler 6 supplied with a solution to the requisite height with aqua ammonia of the required strength. The aqua at zero. When the magnets 2829 are deenergized the armatures 28 and 29' will be moved downward by gravity, carrying the links '30 v and 30 automaticall into the position shown in Fig. 1, thus olding the plates 31-32 in position to maintain the valves 38-and 21 closed and the valve 42 open, as above described. The cold water is admitted-through an intake valve into the condenser tank 11 and in contact tact with the coils 14, and the overflow passes through the pipe '13, and a limited quantity through the pipe 10 and the drum 7 and coil 8 and passes oil through the waste pipe 9.

The water in the tank 11- covers the coils 14.

The gas,if gas is employed as afuel,is turned on through the pipe 19 behind the valve 21, and a portion passes through the small plpe 20 to the pilot burner 22 which is now lighted, preparatory to firin the larger burner 18. The switch 46 is c osed and the current transmitted through the pointer 24' to the magnet 29 which is thereby energized drawing the armature 29 upwardlyand causthe burner 18,

rescuer ing the link 30 to reverse the position of the member 32, thus closing the valve 42 and opening the valve 21, and permitting gas to flow through the pipe 19 to the burner 18 which is lighted by the pilot burner 22 and the contents of the boiler 6 heated thereby. The water is thus sto ped from flowing though the pipe 10 and the coil 8. The heat thus raises the pressure in the boiler 6 and a portion passes through the conduit 23 and causing pointer 24: to move in clockwise rotation around the dial, as the pointer 24' leaves the contact 25, the circuit is broken through the magnet 29 which is thus deenergized, permitting the armature 29 to fall by gravity carrying the pin of the member 30 to the lower end of the slot in the member 32, but without affecting or moving the latter. This dropping of the armature 29 therefore does not afiect the valves 21 and 42. The burner 18 continuing in operation the pressure increases and causes the pointer 24v to pass into engagement with the contact 26. This again closes the circuit through the magnet 29 and again energizes the latter, causing the armature 29' to again act and reversing the position of the member 32 and thereby closing the valve 21 and opening the valve 42. This cuts off the Supply of gas and extinguishes but still leaves the pilot 22 in operation. The frictional resistance of the levers 35 and 39 and the links and rods associated therewith is sufficient to hold the devices in their adjusted positions after the solenoids 28 and 29 are deenergized. A portion or all the overflow from the pipe 13 now passes through the branch 10 and into the drum 7 of the boiler, thence through the coil 8 and through the waste pipe 9, thereby cooling the contents of the boiler 6 which causes the pressure to fall. The pointer 24 is thereby moved in a counter clockwise rotation and this continues until a vacuum is,

produced and the pointer reaches the member 25 thus passing over the contact 25 and making no electrical contact therewith. The pointer 24 continues its counterclockwise rotation until it reaches the contact 27, at which oint it closes the circuit and energizes tie magnet 28, causing the latter, through the movement of its armature 28', to reverse the position of the member 31and open the valve38. This operation allows the an-hydrous ammonia in the storage tank 17 to pass through the valve 38 and into the. coil 3 and back into the boiler 6 through the pipe 4 and check valve 44. The bore of the plug of the valve 38 is relatively small and allows a comparatively small quantity of the liquid ammonia to pass tothe coil 3. When the fuel valve 31 is closed, cutting of? the burner 18 and the valve 42 opened permitting the flow of cooling water through the coil 8, the temperature of the weak solution tr ll will fall rapidly, and pressure will also fall rapidly, and the pointer 24 will make contact at 27, energizing the solenoid 28 and opening the expansion valve 38. The continued fall in pressure will cause the pointer 2st to continue its counterclockwise movement until the reabsorption of the ammonia vapor returning through pipe-twill cause the pressure to rise. The pointer 24' then moves clockwise and again makes contact at 27 energizing solenoid 28, closing the expansion valve 38 and terminating the refri crating period.

bviously contact 27 must be near contact 25 so that the small amount of ammonia remaining in the piping system beyond the valve 38, after said valve is closed, will be sufiicient to generate suiiicient pressure in the boiler 6 to carry the pointer 24' over to contact 25. As the pressure rises from the expanding gases in the'cooling coils, the pointer 24. continues in its clockwise movement until it again engages the contact 25, by passing beneath the intake end of the passover 25',-thus closing the circuit again through the magnet 29 and reversing the positions of the valves 21 and 42, and start ng the apparatus again.

By this means the operation is automatic and uniform and maintaining the temperature in the coils of the refrigerator at a substantially uniform degree.

At the end of the heating period the liquor remaining in the boiler is almost pure water, andwhen this liquor is cooled down due to the circulation of cooling water through the coil 8 its affinity for ammonia will become so great as to produce a partial vacuum in-the oller 6 and pipe 4:, liquid ammonia admitted through valve 38 will rapidly evaporate taking up heat from the brine from the tank 2 and .thus render the same very cold.

The apparatus may be stopped at any time by merely opening the switch 46 and Y turning ofi the gas and water to the burner and to' the condensing tank respectively.

' I do not wish to be understood as restricting the invention to the particular embodi ment disclosed nor to the exact construction arrangement and adaptation of parts shown and described, as modifications and changes within the scope of the claims may be made as required.

What is claimed is:

1. In a refrigerating apparatus, a container for a solution of calcium chlorid, a container for a 'solution'of aqua ammonia and having a conductor coil extendin therethrough, a condenser including a circulating coil communicating with the aqua ammonia container, a water conductor leading into and from the condenser, a branch between the Water conductor and the container for the aqua ammonia externally of the soluire branch, means for supplying heat to the aqua ammonia container and having a controlling valve, a storage tank communicating withthe condenser, a conductor medium extending into the calcium chlorid container, a delivery conductor between the storage tank and the conductor.medium of the calcium chlorid container and having a controlling valve, a return conductor between the conductor of the calcium chlorid container and the aqua ammonia container, and means controlled by the pressure generated by heat in the aqua ammonia container for actuating the controlling valve.

2. In a refrigerating apparatus, a generator including an intermediate shell and an upper and lower drum, a conductor providing communication between the drums through the shell, said shell adapted to containa solution of aqua ammonia, a container for a solution of calcium chlorid, delivery means roviding communication between the calcium chlorid return means providing communicatlon between the calclum chlorid container and the shell, means for imparting heat to the shell and means under the control of the pressure generated bythe heat for controlling the same.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature hereto.

WALTER C. RADDANT.

container and the shell, 

